Rap icons Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden at a private ceremony held at the White House.
The female rap pioneers were honored alongside other prominent figures, including Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Eva Longoria.
The National Medal of Arts is recognized as the highest honor for artists and arts patrons, bestowed by the U.S. federal government. According to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), it is awarded to individuals or groups for their outstanding contributions to the growth, support, and accessibility of the arts in the U.S. Elliott and Latifah have made remarkable strides in the music industry, breaking barriers and inspiring generations of artists.
Missy Elliott, known for her trailblazing contributions to Hip-Hop, expressed her gratitude on Instagram, sharing moments from the event, including a snapshot with her fellow honoree, Queen Latifah.
“I am HUMBLY GRATEFUL! Crying Tears of JOY! Thinking of the days I wasn’t so strong but through FAITH & PRAYER I kept going..I’m SO THANKFUL🙏🏾@POTUS 🙏🏾CONGRATULATIONS to the other AMAZING ppl who was blessed with this honor🙌🏾☺️A BiG CONGRATS to my sis @queenlatifah who deserve all the BOUQUETS she also was honored yesterday! Thank you QUEEN for kicking down doors for me & those after you.🙏🏾🫶🏾 #NationalMedalsofArts @FLOTUS The entire committee 🙏🏾 #VA #757,” she said.
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Missy Elliot and Queen Latifah’s achievements
The award adds to a series of recent achievements for Missy Elliott, who continues to make history. Just last month, she became the third female rapper to gross over $2 million from a single concert, further solidifying her status as one of the industry’s most successful performers.
Queen Latifah, a legendary rapper and actress, has also been making headlines. It was recently announced that a biopic on her life is developing, with actor Will Smith attached as a producer. The film will explore her rise in the music and entertainment industry and highlight her influence on Hip Hop culture.
